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What is it worth?

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mgownr2 Avatar
mgownr2 Gary Brown
Normal, IL, USA   USA
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I know this is a project so the phrase "walk away....walk quickly away" has come to mind. With all the ads for MG TD's on Craiglist, Ebay, UK Marketplace and alike, I haven't been able to find any examples of a TD in this current condition for sale. So, I was pondering what is it worth? I should point out that I do not own the car as its for sale in a "local" estate sale in Illinois. The only information is that it is complete and original but disassembled for restoration (for what ever that's worth?). Any ideas?


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Tim66 Avatar
Tim66 Tim Burchfield
Columbus, OH, USA   USA
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If the engine turned over easily and the transmission seems Ok and all, repeat all the body parts were there I go up to $4000. Of course I'd then put $15 K into restoring it (ask me how I know). eye rolling smiley

Tim
TD12524

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Robert H Gold Member Robert Harvey
Wichita, KS, USA   USA
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1951 MG TD "Millicent Grace (Millie)"
Since it is pretty well disassembled, and the interior is out, with some effort you can see a lot of the wood. The floor boards are fairly easy and inexpensive to fabricate and replace, so don't worry about them too much. However, I would suggest that you take a careful look at any of the structural body wood you can see (including / especially from the bottom). If there is rot in the wood, I would suggest walking away. That can make a really big job out of it. And also look for serious rust, as this can get expensive to repair. If you want a TD to drive and play with a little bit, you can probably buy one for quite a bit less than it will cost to restore this one, unless you are expert at auto restoration and can do almost all of the work yourself. But, if you are looking for a project...

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Tim66 Avatar
Tim66 Tim Burchfield
Columbus, OH, USA   USA
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Robert pointed out a very big consideration that I forgot, the wood. I was extremely lucky that only the gas tank backboard had to be replaced on my car. I didn't even know at that time to carefully examine the wood parts. Personally, I wouldn't buy a T series that needed any wood work done. I did look at a very nice 53 TD that needed little work before buying my basket case. I asked the owner how the wooden frame on the car was. His reply was that MG TDs did not have wooden frames. I'm guessing that he did no work on his cars himself.

Tim
TD12524

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Paul J Avatar
Locust Grove, OK, USA   USA
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If you want a car for restoration instead of buying a driver, putting gas in it and go, then be prepared to spend a lot of time and money in the process. Depending on your skills at wood work, sheet metal work, engine rebuilding and electrical knowledge, will determine just how much over the value of the finished product you'll spend. No one can tell you how to spend your money, so If your not wanting to do this to make money, but just for the enjoyment, do your thing. If not for the enjoyment, then buy a driver, you'll be much happier and can enjoy it right away, not years down the road. I will never recover what I have in my TF, even breaking even seems far fetched, but I love the car and have no desire to sell it. JMHO. PJ

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LaVerne Avatar
LaVerne LaVerne Downey
Fruita, CO, USA   USA
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1954 MG TF "Green Hornet"
1969 MG MGB "The Beater"
1979 Triumph TR8 "Turd 8"
I paid 4 grand for this one in 2010. It came with a University Motors rebuilt engine and gear box that had not been installed...along with $ 3000 in new parts from Moss. To get it to the point of the last photo it was a solid years worth of work with me doing it all except some powder coating and a little bit of chrome plating. Another 20 grand out of my pocket . I sold it at auction and got 25 grand back in my pocket two years ago. For me ... I wouldn't pay more than a couple of grand for what I see...and thats if the woods in good condition...which it was on the one I had. How much??? Depends on how bad you want a project.


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TD10971 Avatar
TD10971 Nelson K
long island, NY, USA   USA
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probably worth 25k+ after you spend 30k+ 1000 hours

thats if all goes smoothsmoking smiley

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TD4834 Avatar
TD4834 Bill Chasser
Sacramento, CA, USA   USA
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1950 MG TD
1951 MG TD
1951 MG TD MkII
1952 MG TD MkII    & more
What Paul says x2. I won't ever pay more than $2000 for a basket case car ever again. Price goes down from there. If the car is so bad that it is a parts car it is very difficult to come out ahead. Most sheet metal doesn't command a high price as the market is flooded with parts that don't sell just look at eBay I've seen parts over and over relished that never sell even when priced under $100. A perfect grill shell is the exception but they don't exist very often.

If you pay more than that your taking away from the funds needed to restore. A very costly adventure for uninitiated newbies. Which I was one when I restored TD 4834. I did it correctly but not without great expense and doing all the work myself except powdercoating, machining and upholstery. If you don't have the garage, tools and ability your car will end up like the pictures shown above or worse. My guess the number of basket case cars out there are near or greater to the ones intact. You really have to love these cars to tackle them. JMHO.

Bill Chasser
TD-4834



Bill Chasser
TD-4834
TD-5779
TD/c-8151
TD/c-16920
TD-19408
TD-24060

TF-8200

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Robert H Gold Member Robert Harvey
Wichita, KS, USA   USA
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1951 MG TD "Millicent Grace (Millie)"
Like Tim, I got lucky when I bought mine--it just happened to have good wood (at least all that I have seen) with exceptions: The floorboards, which I don't think are too big of a deal, and I will be replacing as part of the transmission overhaul that is currently underway, and some goofed up holes in the door jamb where the door latch is attached to the inside of the body. Woodwork-wise, this wasn't too hard to fix. However, it did cost about $800 in body and paint work to repair the holes that the dumb previous owner had drilled thru the body so he could run machine screws all the way thru from the outside to hold the door latches on. To get a feel for what can be involved with fixing wood, visit Dave Braun's website. www.dbraun99.com and find the section on restoration of his TD. There are several sub-sections on replacing the wood in his car. Daunting task for sure. It is not impossible, but (in my opinion) there are enough good MG-TDs around that it isn't worth it. Unless, like several of us have suggested, you just want to do it for the fun of it.

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Tim66 Avatar
Tim66 Tim Burchfield
Columbus, OH, USA   USA
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In reply to # 3383198 by TD4834 What Paul says x2. I won't ever pay more than $2000 for a basket case car ever again. Price goes down from there. If the car is so bad that it is a parts car it is very difficult to come out ahead. Most sheet metal doesn't command a high price as the market is flooded with parts that don't sell just look at eBay I've seen parts over and over relished that never sell even when priced under $100. A perfect grill shell is the exception but they don't exist very often.

If you pay more than that your taking away from the funds needed to restore. A very costly adventure for uninitiated newbies. Which I was one when I restored TD 4834. I did it correctly but not without great expense and doing all the work myself except powdercoating, machining and upholstery. If you don't have the garage, tools and ability your car will end up like the pictures shown above or worse. My guess the number of basket case cars out there are near or greater to the ones intact. You really have to love these cars to tackle them. JMHO.

Bill Chasser
TD-4834

There should be something called The Inverse Law of Used Auto Parts. i.e. Used parts I want to sell command low prices, used parts I want to buy are very expensive.

Tim
TD12524

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TD4834 Avatar
TD4834 Bill Chasser
Sacramento, CA, USA   USA
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1950 MG TD
1951 MG TD
1951 MG TD MkII
1952 MG TD MkII    & more
Tim. I think the law was taught in AutoJumble 101 but I played hooky that day under my car. Lol.

Seriously though many parts just don't command a reasonable value because of supply and demand. That happened because to many newbies with good intentions got in over their heads and then gave up on goods cars ( at the time they were taken apart) and then left in pieces. I don't remember how many cars I have come across since getting into Tseries that have met such fates.

In just my stable alone

TD-4834 fully disassembled since the early sixties. All parts including original hardware were accounted for except the bumper fascias,
headlight lenses,refractors and bezels. Now fully restored.
TD/c -16920 held together w/ bailing wire no interior, motor, trans, grill shell. Panels in primer and tub wood destroyed from being left out years in the elements. Originally bought for its MK II related pieces for TD-4834. Decided to save the car after doing research. Original #s matching engine and trans has been found but not acquired as yet
TD-24060 complete sitting outside in desert since 1966. Upon further inspection Wood mainframes rotted and interior fixings rotted to dust engine filled with silt. Bought originally for parts for TD/c 16920 later determined to be unfit for use or restoration
TD/c -8151. Disassembled since 1970 complete inside storage. Chassis and running gear restored but will need to be inspected. No interior next in line to be restored
TD-19408. Partially disassembled project since 1974. B series engine swap unfinished. Bought for its straight body panels for TD-c -16920 chassis and running gear sold to another enthusiasts to further his project.

I still have enough pieces body from TD/c 16920, rolling chassis and trans from TD-24060 and a disassembled XPAG to roughly put a near complete car minus interior and canvass together. But it would take a very dedicated person with a large cash flow to do so.

Craigs, local papers and other media are full of these forlorn cars in deplorable condition much worse than mine



Bill Chasser
TD-4834
TD-5779
TD/c-8151
TD/c-16920
TD-19408
TD-24060

TF-8200

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mgownr2 Avatar
mgownr2 Gary Brown
Normal, IL, USA   USA
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Its likely too much work for me at this time but I do appreciate the input. I already have a Bugeye Sprite restoration and limited space for storage. If anyone else is interested in it and lives in the St. Louis area, there is an estate sale today & tomorrow where the car can be seen. Happy Motoring.

MG TD Estate Sale - Collinsville IL

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